Following Surfing’s historic inclusion on the Tokyo 2020 Sports Programme in 2016, plans have been progressing on a unique Surfing Beach Festival venue plan and, upon invitation of the ISA, the Tokyo 2020 delegation travelled to California to experience a top Surfing event and continue discussions on how to best maximize the sport’s Olympic debut.

Among the Tokyo 2020 Delegation are:

Also joining the group is Atsushi Sakai, President of the Nippon Surfing Association, and Pierre Fratter-Bardy, Head of Olympic Games Strategy and Development at the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

During their trip the delegation will join ISA President Fernando Aguerre at the US Open in Huntington Beach, meet with athletes and the wider Surfing community and work with the ISA team on progressing plans for 2020.

Welcoming the group, President Fernando Aguerre said:

“This is a very exciting moment in the history of Surfing, and I am excited to welcome my friends from Tokyo 2020 to California, my home and the home of Surfing.

We have been on a long journey and today we move one step closer to our Olympic debut.

“We will be working with the Tokyo 2020 team over the coming days to ensure we create the very best conditions for Surfing to thrive in two years’ time.

I am positive that, together, we can bring to the Olympics a new dynamic youth appeal and leaving a lasting legacy for Japan, the Games and our sport.”

Tokyo 2020 Sports Director Koji Murofushi said:

It will be a symbolic sport of the Tokyo 2020 Games that will inspire younger generations.

“Attending the US Open in California will give us the opportunity to learn how to stage major competitions, and we would like to reflect the knowledge we acquire there in our preparations to provide the best possible atmosphere for the athletes from all over the world at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The US Open successfully blends sporting and surfing cultures, and we’ll be able to learn a wide range of operational tips.

We believe this will help us host a successful surfing festival at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where spectators will be able to experience surfing culture as well as enjoy the competition.” —- ISA